MILWAUKEE--The Marquette women's basketball team opens its ninth season of BIG EAST Conference play as it travels to Butler on Saturday, Dec. 28 for the Bulldogs' first game as a new league member. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. CT at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse.

The Golden Eagles (9-2, 0-0) are off to their best start since the 2010-11 season when they opened the non-conference portion of their schedule at 12-1. That was the last season MU earned an NCAA Tournament berth. Marquette is led by seniors Katherine Plouffe and Katie Young who both nearly average a double double. Plouffe is pouring in 18.1 points and 11.0 rebounds per night, while Young is recording 13.5 points and 9.8 boards per game.

The Last Meeting

Butler

62

Marquette

73

November 10, 2012
Al McGuire Center

Marquette Tops Butler In Season-Opener, 73-62
MILWAUKEE - Four different members of the Marquette University women's basketball team tallied double-digit point performances to help the Golden Eagles cruise to a 73-62 victory over Butler in both squads' season-openers Saturday night at the Al McGuire Center.

Marquette is 10-7 in league lidlifters under head coach Terri Mitchell and have won six of the last nine conference openers. Last season the Golden Eagles fell to Syracuse, 92-79 at home to open BIG EAST play.

Butler opens the conference season with a 5-6 record after falling at Indiana State on Dec. 21. Daress McClung leads the Bulldogs with 14.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest, while Liz Stratman tallies 14.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Butler finished last season sixth in the A-10 with an 8-6 conference record.

Saturday marks the official start to the new-look BIG EAST Conference with Marquette playing at Butler and Villanova at Creighton for the Blue Jays first BIG EAST game. Xavier will open its first season of conference play at DePaul on Jan. 1.